Mounted during the celebration of the United States semiquincentennial, “Folk Nation: Crafting Patriotism in the United States” draws from the American Folk Art Museum’s collections to explore links between vernacular art and the construction of an American sense of self.
Introducing visitors to the concept of “folk” as a category developed in conjunction with the art and antiques markets, this focused exhibition positions works as multilayered in their meanings, imbued with cultural significance not only by their creators but also by their collectors and subsequent owners.
“Folk Nation builds on the American Folk Art Museum’s commitment to critically examining the histories embedded within the objects we steward,” said Jason T. Busch, who directs the museum.
“As the country marks 250 years since its founding — and our Museum marks its 65th anniversary — this exhibition invites reflection on how art has participated in shaping ideas of nationhood, who is represented within those narratives, and how they continue to evolve.”
“Terms such as ‘folk,’ ‘nation,’ and ‘patriotism’ carry layered and sometimes contested meanings,” said Emelie Gevalt, the museum’s Deputy Director & Chief Curatorial and Program Officer.
“By placing historical works in dialogue with later reinterpretations, Folk Nation encourages visitors to reconsider these concepts and to recognize vernacular art as a dynamic site of cultural negotiation.”
The exhibit will open April 10, 2026 and run through September 13th, and then reopen October 8, 2026 through February 28, 2027.
Founded in 1961, the American Folk Art Museum is an art museum on the Upper West Side of Manhattan in New York City, at 2 Lincoln Square, Columbus Avenue at 66th Street.
Admission is always free.
Illustration: “Situation of America, 1848,” unknown artist, (American Folk Art Museum).
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